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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/mar/30/ex-cyclone-debbie-to-hit-south-east-queensland-with-flash-flooding-expected-live
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ex-cyclone Debbie: about 50 people trapped by floods around Mackay – live | Ex-cyclone Debbie: about 50 people trapped by floods around Mackay – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.04am BST | |
| 02:04 | |
| Thousands of stranded tourists will be evacuated from Hamilton Island as conditions ease, and Virgin, Qantas, and Jetstar resume flights to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Cairns. But Hamilton Island authorities are warning passengers that flights are already near-capacity, and that the loss of power and communications is forcing airlines to conduct manual check-ins. That means each check-in will take about 25 minutes. | |
| “As such, we are anticipating long waits for guests and apologise in advance for this inconvenience,” the Hamilton Island authorities said in a statement. | |
| “With over 3,000 guests in the Whitsunday region needing to return home, not all guests will be able to secure seats on a flight home today.” | |
| UPDATE (11am QLD time): We thank you for your continued patience please see the latest flight update attached for #HamiltonIsland pic.twitter.com/QPwFoXZLec | |
| 1.56am BST | |
| 01:56 | |
| Rockhampton regional council has updated its list of road closures. You can check for the latest list here. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.00am BST | |
| 1.52am BST | |
| 01:52 | |
| AAP has compiled this list of closures due to the weather in south-east Queensland: | |
| 763 state schools, 1,286 Catholic and private schools and 546 childcare centres are now closed. | |
| Beaches along 600km of coastline between Agnes Water and the New South Wa;es border have been closed. | |
| The Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships on the Gold Coast have been suspended until further notice. | |
| Gold Coast theme parks Dreamworld, Movie World, Wet’N’Wild and Sea World all closed for the day. | |
| Griffith University campuses and Queensland University of Technology campuses to close campuses from noon. University of Queensland campuses across the south-east have been closed for the day. Bond University and University of Sunshine Coast campuses are also closed. | |
| Tafe Queensland have closed all south-east Queensland campuses and some rural campuses. | |
| Queensland Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art closed. | |
| All criminal matters adjourned at Brisbane’s supreme and district courts. Civil matters proceeding as they can on a case-by-case basis. | |
| Elective surgery at the Gold Coast University hospital cancelled. | |
| More than 200 roads across Queensland are closed. | |
| All southeast public transport services are experiencing delays, with inbound trains between Bowen Hills and Newmarket suspended. CityCat services running a reduced schedule. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.01am BST | |
| 1.46am BST | |
| 01:46 | |
| Streets in Brisbane are already flooding. A full list of closures is on the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ website. | |
| Munro Street at St Lucia opposite #UQ flooded #bigwet #Brisbane pic.twitter.com/3AkTviZIOT | |
| Person looks on as car submerged in flood water. Heroes Avenue, Toowong. #ifitsfloodedforgetit @snoozen pic.twitter.com/ZWB4dD489B | |
| Quick run down to the end of road to check on #KedronBrook... It's raging! #Brisbane #BigWet #CycloneDebbie #Qld pic.twitter.com/CgQMlHVCVe | |
| 1.36am BST | |
| 01:36 | |
| Gold Coast airport cancels flights | |
| The Gold Coast airport is cancelling all Tigerair flights. Virgin flights are cancelled from midday local time. | |
| ⚠️🌧️ All Tigerair services have been cancelled for the remainder of the day. Virgin Australia services have been cancelled from 12pm AEST. | |
| The latest advice from Brisbane airport is that it remains open but will experience delays because of the weather. | |
| ‼Airport Update ‼We are open however we are experiencing some delays due to ☔. Best to check with your airline for latest info! #bigwet pic.twitter.com/7AMXtnNbT1 | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.41am BST | |
| 1.33am BST | |
| 01:33 | |
| Roads across a vast region of the state have either been cut off, damaged or flooded. Authorities are continuing to warn motorists to stay off the roads. Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads has a map of the known road closures here but it may not be exhaustive. | |
| The Marlborough-Sarina Road, which runs south of Mackay, has collapsed in the heavy rains. | |
| Section of Old Maryborough-Sarina Road collapsed after heavy rain. Photos by Theresa Allgood: #bigwet #TCDebbie #qldfloods pic.twitter.com/PTKW5i5AL8 | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.41am BST | |
| 1.27am BST | 1.27am BST |
| 01:27 | 01:27 |
| Emergency services are reminding parents to keep their kids away from flooded creeks and drains after the closure of all schools between Agnes Water and NSW. | Emergency services are reminding parents to keep their kids away from flooded creeks and drains after the closure of all schools between Agnes Water and NSW. |
| The closures include independent and private schools. Businesses have also been urged to close after midday. | The closures include independent and private schools. Businesses have also been urged to close after midday. |
| With schools closed across Qld, parents keep kids inside & away from flooded creeks/drains: https://t.co/i8nlUK6X0W pic.twitter.com/IF2BCxzfaq | With schools closed across Qld, parents keep kids inside & away from flooded creeks/drains: https://t.co/i8nlUK6X0W pic.twitter.com/IF2BCxzfaq |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.29am BST | at 1.29am BST |
| 1.22am BST | 1.22am BST |
| 01:22 | 01:22 |
| We mentioned earlier that Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten had visited cyclone-ravaged areas in north Queensland. They’ve declared themselves on a “unity ticket” in support of the region. These photos of their trip along the north Queensland coast have just come in. | We mentioned earlier that Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten had visited cyclone-ravaged areas in north Queensland. They’ve declared themselves on a “unity ticket” in support of the region. These photos of their trip along the north Queensland coast have just come in. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.30am BST | at 1.30am BST |
| 1.13am BST | 1.13am BST |
| 01:13 | 01:13 |
| An ABC reporter, Megan Hendry, has just tweeted this picture of a snake on the flooded Bruce Highway, at Bajool, south of Rockhampton. | An ABC reporter, Megan Hendry, has just tweeted this picture of a snake on the flooded Bruce Highway, at Bajool, south of Rockhampton. |
| Snakes on a highway. Wildlife escaping the floodwaters across the Bruce at Bajool pic.twitter.com/LLeY5BXRXd | Snakes on a highway. Wildlife escaping the floodwaters across the Bruce at Bajool pic.twitter.com/LLeY5BXRXd |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.21am BST | at 1.21am BST |
| 1.10am BST | 1.10am BST |
| 01:10 | 01:10 |
| Nick Evershed | Nick Evershed |
| Satellite imagery gives a good idea of the tropical low’s movement towards south-east Queensland. | Satellite imagery gives a good idea of the tropical low’s movement towards south-east Queensland. |
| The images come from the Himawari series of weather satellites, operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency. | The images come from the Himawari series of weather satellites, operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency. |
| They orbit in close formation, both at about 140.7°E (in line with Japan, Papua and central Australia). | They orbit in close formation, both at about 140.7°E (in line with Japan, Papua and central Australia). |
| Data from each new scan of the satellites is transmitted every 10 minutes, providing near real-time weather information to the Bureau of Meteorology, which then disseminates it further. | Data from each new scan of the satellites is transmitted every 10 minutes, providing near real-time weather information to the Bureau of Meteorology, which then disseminates it further. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.14am BST | at 1.14am BST |
| 12.59am BST | 12.59am BST |
| 00:59 | 00:59 |
| Organisers of the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships on the Gold Coast have suspended competition until further notice because of Queensland’s wild weather. | Organisers of the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships on the Gold Coast have suspended competition until further notice because of Queensland’s wild weather. |
| Beaches from Mackay to the Gold Coast have been closed. | Beaches from Mackay to the Gold Coast have been closed. |
| The decision comes as the region prepares for up to 300mm of rainfall from ex-tropical cyclone Debbie. In 2010 the teenage Sydney lifesaver Saxon Bird died after being swept away during an under-19 event at the championships. | The decision comes as the region prepares for up to 300mm of rainfall from ex-tropical cyclone Debbie. In 2010 the teenage Sydney lifesaver Saxon Bird died after being swept away during an under-19 event at the championships. |
| Organisers were criticised at the time for continuing with the tournament despite warnings of dangerous conditions whipped up by Cyclone Ului. | Organisers were criticised at the time for continuing with the tournament despite warnings of dangerous conditions whipped up by Cyclone Ului. |
| In 1996 another surf lifesaver, 15-year-old Robert Gatenby, died at Kurrawa beach when Cyclone Beti was offshore. | In 1996 another surf lifesaver, 15-year-old Robert Gatenby, died at Kurrawa beach when Cyclone Beti was offshore. |
| #CLOSED: All beaches from Mackay to the Gold Coast, including South Bank Lagoon. Stay out of the water! https://t.co/xGfIc0cYX1 #bigwet pic.twitter.com/tbNRL0fSSn | #CLOSED: All beaches from Mackay to the Gold Coast, including South Bank Lagoon. Stay out of the water! https://t.co/xGfIc0cYX1 #bigwet pic.twitter.com/tbNRL0fSSn |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.05am BST | at 1.05am BST |
| 12.50am BST | 12.50am BST |
| 00:50 | 00:50 |
| Hermione Gardiner is on Daydream Island, which has been hit hard by the cyclone. It’s expected evacuations will begin today. Last night Gardiner described the situation. | Hermione Gardiner is on Daydream Island, which has been hit hard by the cyclone. It’s expected evacuations will begin today. Last night Gardiner described the situation. |
| Daydream is pretty ruined, not sure they’ll be having guests here for a while! We are getting very sparse updates so we don’t really know what is going on. | Daydream is pretty ruined, not sure they’ll be having guests here for a while! We are getting very sparse updates so we don’t really know what is going on. |
| Since the cyclone passed drinking water is on rations (one bottle at a time), power is out in most areas of the hotel, as is running water so no toilets showers for the most part. | Since the cyclone passed drinking water is on rations (one bottle at a time), power is out in most areas of the hotel, as is running water so no toilets showers for the most part. |
| They have the central Atrium with power and are manually cleaning/filling toilets. They are serving food at meal times with what they have available. | They have the central Atrium with power and are manually cleaning/filling toilets. They are serving food at meal times with what they have available. |
| The atmosphere is calm despite from the destruction around us most people are just getting very anxious as nobody knows when we will get out of here. Jetties are gone and waterways are closed, rumours of navy boats and helicopters coming for rescue and us being a priority but right now nothing concrete at all and as great as the staff are they don’t know anything either. | The atmosphere is calm despite from the destruction around us most people are just getting very anxious as nobody knows when we will get out of here. Jetties are gone and waterways are closed, rumours of navy boats and helicopters coming for rescue and us being a priority but right now nothing concrete at all and as great as the staff are they don’t know anything either. |
| It’s looking like spending another night here tonight in damp smelly rooms with no real facilities. Trying to stay positive. Very ready to be home now. | It’s looking like spending another night here tonight in damp smelly rooms with no real facilities. Trying to stay positive. Very ready to be home now. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.11am BST | at 1.11am BST |
| 12.38am BST | 12.38am BST |
| 00:38 | 00:38 |
| The first evacuation flights are reportedly leaving Hamilton Island today, and the ADF is also expected to get to Daydream, where hundreds of people are stranded. | The first evacuation flights are reportedly leaving Hamilton Island today, and the ADF is also expected to get to Daydream, where hundreds of people are stranded. |
| HMAS Choules has left Brisbane after loading stores to support communities affected by #CycloneDebbie #AusNavy #tcdebbie #ausarmy pic.twitter.com/PNZX2x2Au4 | HMAS Choules has left Brisbane after loading stores to support communities affected by #CycloneDebbie #AusNavy #tcdebbie #ausarmy pic.twitter.com/PNZX2x2Au4 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.47am BST | at 12.47am BST |
| 12.37am BST | 12.37am BST |
| 00:37 | 00:37 |
| Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have arrived in north Queensland to inspect the cyclone-affected area. They’ve said they are on a “unity ticket”. | Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have arrived in north Queensland to inspect the cyclone-affected area. They’ve said they are on a “unity ticket”. |
| “This is an example of nature flinging her worst at Australians,” Turnbull said. | “This is an example of nature flinging her worst at Australians,” Turnbull said. |
| “The whole nation gets behind them and supports them … 1,300 ADF men and women are working here now. This is the largest pre-deployment of an Australian defence force in advance of a natural disaster in history.” | “The whole nation gets behind them and supports them … 1,300 ADF men and women are working here now. This is the largest pre-deployment of an Australian defence force in advance of a natural disaster in history.” |
| Shorten said: “We congratulate the strength of the local community. Australia should realise the storm may have passed but the work has just begun.” | Shorten said: “We congratulate the strength of the local community. Australia should realise the storm may have passed but the work has just begun.” |
| He has also pledged that both sides of parliament will make sure insurance claims are properly dealt with by insurance companies. | He has also pledged that both sides of parliament will make sure insurance claims are properly dealt with by insurance companies. |
| He urged people to support the region by considering holidaying there once it had recovered. | He urged people to support the region by considering holidaying there once it had recovered. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.47am BST | at 12.47am BST |
| 12.26am BST | 12.26am BST |
| 00:26 | 00:26 |
| Rescues under way in north Queensland | Rescues under way in north Queensland |
| Authorities are trying to rescue about 50 people trapped by floodwaters in and around cyclone-battered Mackay. | Authorities are trying to rescue about 50 people trapped by floodwaters in and around cyclone-battered Mackay. |
| The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, Katarina Carroll, says rescue efforts are under way to reach 11 people near Eton, in the Pioneer Valley, south-west of the city. | The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, Katarina Carroll, says rescue efforts are under way to reach 11 people near Eton, in the Pioneer Valley, south-west of the city. |
| About 40 people are also awaiting rescue in the Homebush area, just outside Mackay, with swift-water crews working to move them from the West leagues club. | About 40 people are also awaiting rescue in the Homebush area, just outside Mackay, with swift-water crews working to move them from the West leagues club. |
| There were 38 water rescues overnight. | There were 38 water rescues overnight. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.31am BST | at 12.31am BST |
| 12.20am BST | 12.20am BST |
| 00:20 | 00:20 |
| It’s “good news” that Queensland has just had a long, hot, dry summer, because the dams are not too full as these floods hit, according to the Queensland minister Mark Bailey. | It’s “good news” that Queensland has just had a long, hot, dry summer, because the dams are not too full as these floods hit, according to the Queensland minister Mark Bailey. |
| Northpine dam was about 58% capacity, and Wivenhoe at 68%. “This is not comparable to the 2011 situation, let’s be clear about this,” Bailey said. | Northpine dam was about 58% capacity, and Wivenhoe at 68%. “This is not comparable to the 2011 situation, let’s be clear about this,” Bailey said. |
| But “predictions were one thing”, he said, and authorities were watching the amount and location of rainfall and flood levels closely. There was a chance there would be some releases from those two dams on Friday or Saturday, but that would depend on the inflows. | But “predictions were one thing”, he said, and authorities were watching the amount and location of rainfall and flood levels closely. There was a chance there would be some releases from those two dams on Friday or Saturday, but that would depend on the inflows. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.29am BST | at 12.29am BST |
| 12.16am BST | 12.16am BST |
| 00:16 | 00:16 |
| This is the latest round-up of flood warnings for Lower Brisbane and Bremer rivers. | This is the latest round-up of flood warnings for Lower Brisbane and Bremer rivers. |
| Initial flood warning for the Bremer River and Lockyer, Laidley and Warill creeks https://t.co/Nmq6iPby5o #bigwet #QLD pic.twitter.com/4E2XWbwqVk | Initial flood warning for the Bremer River and Lockyer, Laidley and Warill creeks https://t.co/Nmq6iPby5o #bigwet #QLD pic.twitter.com/4E2XWbwqVk |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.26am BST | at 12.26am BST |
| 12.12am BST | 12.12am BST |
| 00:12 | 00:12 |
| “One of the things that concerns me about this system, is it is very much in the south-east an intensifying system … winds are going to pick up” said Queensland’s police commissioner, Ian Stewart. | “One of the things that concerns me about this system, is it is very much in the south-east an intensifying system … winds are going to pick up” said Queensland’s police commissioner, Ian Stewart. |
| “This is a very large system and it’s starting to move quite quickly.” | “This is a very large system and it’s starting to move quite quickly.” |
| Stewart asked people to make preparations to self-evacuate from low-lying areas. | Stewart asked people to make preparations to self-evacuate from low-lying areas. |
| “We’re hoping by tomorrow it’ll be gone and out to sea but between now and then … if your area normally floods in these sort of circumstances go and stay with relatives somewhere else. Go and stay with family and get out now. We can always replace your home. We can’t replace you.” | “We’re hoping by tomorrow it’ll be gone and out to sea but between now and then … if your area normally floods in these sort of circumstances go and stay with relatives somewhere else. Go and stay with family and get out now. We can always replace your home. We can’t replace you.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.26am BST | at 12.26am BST |
| 12.07am BST | 12.07am BST |
| 00:07 | 00:07 |
| Good morning, this is Helen Davidson here to continue our coverage of the aftermath of cyclone Debbie and the heavy rains and flooding now affecting large parts of Queensland. | Good morning, this is Helen Davidson here to continue our coverage of the aftermath of cyclone Debbie and the heavy rains and flooding now affecting large parts of Queensland. |
| All schools in south-east Queensland – more than 600 – are closed today as the weather continues to deteriorate in the area. | All schools in south-east Queensland – more than 600 – are closed today as the weather continues to deteriorate in the area. |
| The state’s deputy premier, Jackie Trad, has told children who are on their way to school to continue on their journey, where staff will arrange for them to be picked up by parents. Public transport will be free from 10am to help people get home. | The state’s deputy premier, Jackie Trad, has told children who are on their way to school to continue on their journey, where staff will arrange for them to be picked up by parents. Public transport will be free from 10am to help people get home. |
| Businesses have been asked to close by midday. | Businesses have been asked to close by midday. |
| A severe weather warning has been cancelled for central Queensland but flood warnings are still current. The warning now extends from just south of Rockhampton to the New South Wales border. | A severe weather warning has been cancelled for central Queensland but flood warnings are still current. The warning now extends from just south of Rockhampton to the New South Wales border. |
| About 150mm to 250mm of rain is expected. Parts of the Gold Coast hinterland have already received 250mm, a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology has said. | About 150mm to 250mm of rain is expected. Parts of the Gold Coast hinterland have already received 250mm, a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology has said. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.25am BST | at 12.25am BST |